Hawthorn heads into this weekend's cutthroat elimination final against the Giants at Engie Stadium with confidence that their best football will overcome an eight-game losing streak at their opponent's home ground and keep their September dreams alive.
The Hawks enjoyed three days of rest following their Round 24 clash against Brisbane before turning their attention to preparing for their mammoth task in the first week of the finals.
Coach Sam Mitchell believes the pre-finals bye has left his team energised and ready for their sudden-death encounter.
"I think there's a lot of talk about the pre-finals bye, and I think there's a level of like energy and vibrancy about," Mitchell said.
"You probably go week to week to week and you don't realise that you've got a bit of fatigue stacking up.
"Then they get a weekend off and all of a sudden they're bouncing into the club and there's a vibrancy about everyone."
Mitchell emphasised his team's physical preparation, which he believes will be crucial come Saturday.
"I'd like to think we trained, you know, at the more physical end of the clubs in the AFL.
"I'm glad they're enjoying the physicality of the game because that's going to matter a lot on Saturday afternoon."
Recent encounters between these two sides have produced tight contests, with both clubs matching up well against each other.
Mitchell anticipates another physical and closely fought battle against Adam Kingsley's Giants.
"You know, there's this feeling about the game now and about where we are, that there's a level of what matters.
"Every contest matters, every game matters, every quarter matters," Mitchell explained.
"The balance of that means that you play at a level where you're not leaving anything because for one team, the season's over.
"There's a level of physicality that's going to be there.
"Both are really good pressure teams; they're really high for pressure, as we are.
"So I'd expect a really heated game, and you know, who can withstand it for longer?"
The recent history between these teams supports Mitchell's expectation of a tight contest.
"I think the last four games we played have all been within a couple of goals.
"It's going to be who can withstand it for the longest period and who can stand up when it matters."
Entering their second consecutive finals campaign, the Hawks carry valuable experience that Mitchell hopes will serve them well, despite the inherent unpredictability of September football.
"I mean there's still some unknowns. You'd like to think we're a bit more confident because we've been here before," Mitchell acknowledged.
"I think you come out of last year's finals campaign and say, well, we loved that, and we want more of it.
"So there's a bit of a spurring motivation to get back to this position to have this moment again.
"So now we're there, and now there's a little bit of confidence that we've been here before. Last year was a big unknown."
However, Mitchell remains realistic about the challenges each finals series presents.
"There's a little bit of confidence, but every finals campaign is different, and I think if you watch five minutes of any final over the last decade or longer, there are a few minutes where players are overawed by it all and no one's playing at their best.
"Then, in general, things settle, and then the game gets back to its norm.
"Hopefully we can jump out early, but the consistency of 120 minutes will be where the game's won."
Uncertainty remains about the make-up of Sam Mitchell's squad for Saturday's clash. Small forward comes midfielder Sam Butler, who last played for Hawthorn in their victory against North Melbourne in Round 17, trained strongly with the squad and featured in the match simulation alongside the Hawthorn-listed forward line, with Luke Breust and Changkuoth Jiath alongside the Box Hill-listed players.
Josh Weddle appears to be the only other possible change to the Hawks' lineup that came within 10 points of defeating reigning premiers Brisbane in Round 24.
The speedster's return would provide a welcome boost to Hawthorn's attacking flair and defensive capabilities as they attempt to break their losing streak at Engie Stadium.
Weddle, who played 50 per cent game time for Box Hill on Saturday in his comeback from a back stress fracture that sidelined him for the Hawks' last eight games, trained strongly with the main group and impressed in match simulation with his pace and dash.
"He'll get through training today.
"If all goes well, then he'll be available.
"That would be beneficial for us if he comes in," Mitchell said.
"But I think when you get to this time of year, it's very rare that you rely on individual players.
"It's very much the collective and how important the team is at this point.
"So we'll try to keep it team-focused."
Mitchell praised his medical staff for managing Weddle's recovery to maximise his chances of participating in the finals.
"I'm really pleased with the medical staff.
"They sort of gave him as much rest as they could, knowing that if it went right, they could get a run at it and give him a go for the finals campaign.
"So I think he's done the work, and the medical team has done a really good job of giving him availability."
In contrast, utility Harry Morrison remains unlikely to return for Saturday's elimination final after missing a match simulation with the team.
Morrison, who played the first 20 matches straight this season, has been absent from the Hawks' past three games due to a quad strain and has spent most of his time with the rehabilitation group, alongside Noah Mraz and Finn Maginness.
With the elimination final approaching a sellout, Mitchell and his team draw confidence from their strong form against fellow premiership contenders during the back end of the season, believing this gives them their best chance to finally conquer Engie Stadium.
"We feel like we've been in pretty good form. We haven't got every job done, but our game has been pretty consistent at a high level.
"Maybe not right at its premium, which it's going to have to be from now and no more chances.
"So we feel like we're in a season that's very open," Mitchell reflected.
The coach remains optimistic about breaking their venue hoodoo.
"I think you've got to break everything. We're going to win there at some stage. May as well be Saturday."
The Hawks' season hangs in the balance as they face the Giants on Saturday afternoon. The winner will advance to week two of the finals, where either Brisbane or Geelong awaits.
